After countless Wednesdays of watching Sussex’s netball teams go head-to-head with other universities, I was sad to see the 2023-2024 come to a close.

Sussex netball has been going from strength to strength, and last year was no exception. Thanks to trials, the teams welcomed a small influx of new members who carried on the legacy of the previous year. Their Freshers have not only been helping to support their team by playing but also by showing up and showing out in silly outfits for the Wednesday night socials.

Playing in a sports team at uni can have a big impact on your life. It can help you make friends with people who have similar interests as well as help you stay active. However, at some point, it has to come to an end. I interviewed some people who have played uni netball for the last time.

Zara from 2s team has said this about her experience with Sussex netball: “I definitely feel a mixture of sadness and pride, I will miss all the girls, training and Wednesday madness. But I’m so happy to have played for Sussex Netball. I would say that it has definitely had a positive effect on my (uni) experience! I have made some of my closest friends and had some of the best experiences due to joining a sports society! It has also helped massively to keep me fit during uni which is really hard”.

I also interviewed India who has been a part of the 1s since her first year and is one of the current presidents, she had this to say. “It’s really made my uni experience better. It has been a nice way to meet people and stay healthy during my time at uni. It also is a nice break from work and keeps me motivated!”. However, it’s not all positive, as she recommends that people try it out, but be aware that it is a very big commitment.

As a bystander in all this, I’ve enjoyed cheering on the girls on match days alongside some of my friends and watching them win the majority of their matches.

Trials for netball are Thursday 19 September, with people trialing for a place in squad or development. However, if you are looking to play netball more casually, then you can attend the weekly social Sunday for just  £2 a session from 4-6pm through Active US.

Jemimah is a third year studying Media and Communications with Spanish. She enjoys doing a range of things at Sussex, including kickboxing, Zumba and netball.